Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 154735 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154735 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
He was right about that. But she hated that he was hurting—and to tell him that she hadn’t been aware of his side of things seemed insulting, as if she hadn’t seen him properly.
Which she had not.
“But I am sorry,” she told him. “That you have any kind of pain, and that is a truth which shall endure.”
Nate bounced the ball using both his hands: left, floor, right, floor, left. Then he caught it again.
“Does he love you? I mean… really love you?” When she inclined her head, he took a deep breath. “That’s good. That’s the way it should be.”
“You shall find someone, Nate, I promise you—” As he tried to interrupt, she shook her head. “Let me finish. I did not believe that I would ever discover someone to love me for what I am. So convinced was I that I did not even look. And yet destiny provided me with my soul mate. The same shall be true of you.”
“So you guys are going to get mated and live happily ever after?” He looked at her. “And I’m not saying this to be a douche.”
There it was, that word again. “Indeed, there is no reason to paddle yourself.”
Nate frowned. “Excuse me?”
“Douchedinghy? Is that the word?”
He laughed a little. “Canoe. I think you mean douche canoe.”
“Ah, yes, that is the saying.” She smiled at him, forcing the expression because she desperately wanted things to be okay between the two of them. “And, no, there are no plans for us to be mated. Our situation is not like that.”
“Because he’s the new Scribe Virgin, huh.”
She nodded. “And I am—well, I do not know how long I shall be around.”
Nate’s brows united over the bridge of his fine, straight nose. “Where will you go. If he’s here, if Sahvage and Mae are here?”
“I take things evening by evening. That is just the way things are.” She hesitated. “Listen, Shuli and I spoke and…”
“He told you. About last night in the woods.” When she nodded, Nate blew out a long breath and looked at the other netted circle, the one that was quite far away. “Nobody needs to worry about that. My head was really fucked up. I have clarity now, though.”
“What has changed?”
“I’m going to fight the Lessening Society, that’s what changed.” He laughed harshly. “Okay, so your expression says it all. It’s the same one both my parents had at different times when I told them. Do I look like such an incompetent ass? A weakling?”
She shook her head. “No, we just care about you that much.”
For a split second, as he stared across at her, the hurt he felt showed. And she would have done everything to make it go away or relieve it in some way.
“Thanks, Rahvyn,” he said hoarsely.
“Do everyone a favor and believe the sentiment, please. When you are out there in the field, and I believe you will go on to fight for our species, just remember, there are so many who truly care for you. You hold the hearts of an entire community in your hands.”
He nodded and blinked quickly as his eyes glowed with emotion—
“Oh, hey.”
At the sound of the voice, they both jumped. A female in leggings and a t-shirt, with long brunette hair and a young on her hip, was standing just inside the double doors. Rahvyn remembered her from the time with George—
As realization struck, Rahvyn looked down at the clothes she had on. Looked back up at the female… Beth.
“Hey, Nate!” the female said as she came forward. “And I heard you wanted to see me, Rahvyn. Can I just say, those jeans look great on you—”
The squeak Rahvyn let out made her stop. “Are you okay?”
Rahvyn threw a hand out as her balance shifted alarmingly, and thank heavens Nate’s upper arm happened to be in range.
“Rahvyn,” he said urgently, “what’s wrong? Come here, let’s sit down—”
“No, no, I’m fine.” She rubbed her eyes, and glanced at the massive ruby that was on the female’s finger. With an utter lack of sophistication and grace, she said, “Is that…”
Oh, why was she asking. She knew what it was, who the female was—who the young in those arms was.
The female winced a little. “Ah, yeah. That would be the Saturnine Ruby.”
“Which means you are…”
“Wrath’s wife. Shellan. Mate.”
“The Queen. And your young is…”
“Little Wrath. Thus the L.W.”
“The next in line for the throne. Dearest Virgin Scribe.” Rahvyn lurched into a bow. Then curtseyed with all the coordination of a drunk. “Forgive me. When I was with you and the King previously, I was so consumed by taking care of the beautiful dog, I did not consider the repercussions of who…—oh, God, I am wearing your pants!”
Promptly, because she had not embarrassed herself enough, she went for the waistband and started unbuttoning the jeans.